The country is understandably focused on the financial crisis. But there is another serious issue in front of us that is not getting nearly enough attention, and that’s whether Sarah Palin is qualified to be vice president — or, if the situation were to arise, president of the United States.

History has shown again and again that a vice president must be ready to assume command of the ship of state on a moment’s notice. But Ms. Palin has given no indication yet that she is capable of handling the monumental responsibilities of the presidency if she were called upon to do so.

In fact, the opposite is the case. We know that there are some parts of Alaska from which, if the day is clear and your eyesight is good, you can actually see Russia. But the infantile repetition of this bit of trivia as some kind of foreign policy bona fide for a vice presidential candidate should give us pause.

The McCain campaign has done its bizarre best to shield Ms. Palin from any sustained media examination of her readiness for the highest offices in the land, and no wonder. She has been an embarrassment in interviews.

But the idea that the voters of the United States might install someone in the vice president’s office who is too unprepared or too intellectually insecure to appear on, say, “Meet the Press” or “Face the Nation” is mind-boggling.

The alarm bells should be clanging and warning lights flashing. You wouldn’t put an unqualified pilot in the cockpit of a jetliner. The potential for catastrophe is far, far greater with an unqualified president.

The United States has been lucky in terms of the qualifications of the vice presidents who have had to step in over the last several decades for presidents who either died or, in Richard Nixon’s case, were forced to leave office. Harry Truman and Lyndon Johnson became extraordinary presidents in their own right. Gerald Ford successfully guided the nation through the immediate aftermath of one of the most traumatic political crises in its history.

For those who think Sarah Palin is in that league, there is no problem. But her unscripted public appearances would lead most honest observers to think otherwise. When asked again this week about her puerile linkage of foreign policy proficiency and Alaska’s proximity to Russia, this time by Katie Couric of CBS News, here is what Ms. Palin said she meant:

“That Alaska has a very narrow maritime border between a foreign country, Russia, and on our other side, the land — boundary that we have with — Canada.”

She went on, but lost her way midsentence: “It’s funny that a comment like that was kind of made to — cari — I don’t know, you know? Reporters ...”

Ms. Couric said, “Mocked?”

“Yeah, mocked,” said Ms. Palin. “I guess that’s the word. Yeah.”

It is not just painful, but frightening to watch someone who could become the vice president of the United States stumbling around like this in an interview.

“Well, it certainly does,” Ms. Palin replied, “because our, our next-door neighbors are foreign countries, there in the state that I am the executive of. And there—”

Gently interrupting, Ms. Couric asked, “Have you ever been involved in any negotiations, for example, with the Russians?”

“We have trade missions back and forth,” said Ms. Palin. “We do. It’s very important when you consider even national security issues with Russia. As Putin rears his head and comes into the airspace of the United States of America, where do they go? It’s Alaska. It’s just right over the border. It is from Alaska that we send those out to make sure that an eye is being kept on this very powerful nation, Russia, because they are right there. They are right next to our state.”

It was surreal, the kind of performance that would generate a hearty laugh if it were part of a Monty Python sketch. But this is real life, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. As Ms. Palin was fumbling her way through the Couric interview, the largest bank failure in the history of the United States, the collapse of Washington Mutual, was occurring.

The press has an obligation to hammer away at Ms. Palin’s qualifications. If it turns out that she has just had a few bad interviews because she was nervous or whatever, additional scrutiny will serve her well.

If, on the other hand, it becomes clear that her performance, so far, is an accurate reflection of her qualifications, it would behoove John McCain and the Republican Party to put the country first — as Mr. McCain loves to say — and find a replacement for Ms. Palin on the ticket.

I'm shocked...SHOCKED I tell you to see who responded first to this thread.

The only thing that shocked me more was the media is to blame...but not Palin for looking like a fool.

I mean a question is asked...Palin looks the fool because she doesn't know what she's talking about and the NY Times had the audacity to ohhh...I don't know point this out and they are the bad ones here.

Yep, I was listening to one of my favorite conservative radio stations 1160 The Voice of Texas and they were bashing Sarah Palin almost as much as they were bashing Barack Obama.

I saw bits and pieces of the Katie Couric interview, and along with the conservatives on the radio, I agree that they were not even hard questions. For instance, when she was asked about the Freddie/Fannie donations, she didn't have a clue on how to answer that and completely bobbled her words. Like the conservatives pointed out on talk radio, she should have blown Katie Couric out of the water with that question as Barack Obama and some high ups in his staff have been linked to them as well.

I thought this youtube video of Jack Cafferty telling it like it is was pretty funny.

Sarah Palin is almost as bad as Barack Obama is without a teleprompter :laugh2: .

All you have to do is find that video of her in that segment and unless you are a fan boy or diehard republican there is no way anyone, with a straight face, can say she looked good in it.

True, she didn't look good. But Herbert is a reliable Republican hater. He and his fellow cronies have done nothing but bash her from Day 1. Therefore, it doesn't mean as much coming from him, because he makes no pretense to objectivity. He would have given her a failing grade no matter what.

Maikeru-sama;2288967]Yep, I was listening to one of my favorite conservative radio stations 1160 The Voice of Texas and they were bashing Sarah Palin almost as much as they were bashing Barack Obama.

I saw bits and pieces of the Katie Couric interview, and along with the conservatives on the radio, I agree that they were not even hard questions. For instance, when she was asked about the Freddie/Fannie donations, she didn't have a clue on how to answer that and completely bobbled her words. Like the conservatives pointed out on talk radio, she should have blown Katie Couric out of the water with that question as Barack Obama and some high ups in his staff have been linked to them as well.

I thought this youtube video of Jack Cafferty telling it like it is was pretty funny.

Sarah Palin is almost as bad as Barack Obama is without a teleprompter :laugh2:

except during the Republican Convention her teleprompter malfunctioned and she never missed a beat. I think it happened to Giuliani too and he did an amazing job.

Yep, I was listening to one of my favorite conservative radio stations 1160 The Voice of Texas and they were bashing Sarah Palin almost as much as they were bashing Barack Obama.

I saw bits and pieces of the Katie Couric interview, and along with the conservatives on the radio, I agree that they were not even hard questions. For instance, when she was asked about the Freddie/Fannie donations, she didn't have a clue on how to answer that and completely bobbled her words. Like the conservatives pointed out on talk radio, she should have blown Katie Couric out of the water with that question as Barack Obama and some high ups in his staff have been linked to them as well.

I thought this youtube video of Jack Cafferty telling it like it is was pretty funny.

Sarah Palin is almost as bad as Barack Obama is without a teleprompter :laugh2: .

Hey that is own by a Houston guy that expanded to your market it is AM700 here in Houston

Thank Texas Senator Dan Patrick (yea I get to vote for him) for you station

Yeah, even though I don't agree with alot of what they say, it is a very good radio station and Dan Patrick and some of the other Texas Congressman or interesting to listen too.

I love Dan Patrick if you do not know the history he was elected during the last Texas Election for senate. he has ran the Radio station prior to that he got feed up with things in the State capitol and one with like 90% of the votes

If you pick up the three amigos on Fridays Paul Bettencourt is the Tax accessor collector and has done a great many good things for Harris County. He is far from a normal politician never seen one like him come on and tell you how to beat the appriasl board.

I have lot of respect for Dan and Paul for trying to do the right thing when it comes to spending our tax dollars and reducing how much we are getting hit.

I love Dan Patrick if you do not know the history he was elected during the last Texas Election for senate. he has ran the Radio station prior to that he got feed up with things in the State capitol and one with like 90% of the votes

If you pick up the three amigos on Fridays Paul Bettencourt is the Tax accessor collector and has done a great many good things for Harris County. He is far from a normal politician never seen one like him come on and tell you how to beat the appriasl board.

I have lot of respect for Dan and Paul for trying to do the right thing when it comes to spending our tax dollars and reducing how much we are getting hit.

I love Paul Bettencourt. I've voted for him every election. Good guy. Never knew he was on the radio. May check him out now.